Laurel Hill State Park growing with addition of Penn Scenic View

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced Tuesday that it has transferred approximately 184 acres in Middlecreek Township to the state to become a permanent addition to Laurel Hill State Park.

The property, which until Tuesday was privately owned, is home to Penn Scenic View.

The state park will now consist of more than 4,200 acres of mountainous terrain and 15 miles of hiking trails.

“Anchored amid the Laurel Highlands’ abundant beauty, Penn Scenic View — with its more than 180 acres, pond and combination of buildings — will directly benefit Laurel Hill State Park visitors and complement what DCNR already offers in that region with its popular state parks and Forbes State Forest,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in a news release.

“This acquisition accentuates the value of longtime DCNR partnerships with WPC and other conservancies, drawn together by the shared goal of land conservation.”

The property helps to support a number of rare species, including the state-endangered Appalachian blue violet herb, according to the conservancy.

The forested land also buffers a tributary to Laurel Hill Creek.

The property was purchased from Penn Scenic View Inc. using grants from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Colcom Foundation and DCNR.